Nuance Dictionary / Grammar
척하다 Cheokhada
To deliberately act like you didn't hear, notice, or understand something awkward, incriminating, or inconvenient.
What does 척하다 mean?
척하다 (Cheokhada) means: To deliberately act like you didn't hear, notice, or understand something awkward, incriminating, or inconvenient.
Textbooks teach you this as a grammar point for 'pretending,' but natives use it as an Olympic-level psychological shield. When someone drops a heavy truth bomb or brings up a mortifying topic, slapping a '척하다' on it lets you instantly ghost the reality of the situation without leaving the room. Learners usually over-rely on it for complex actions, missing that its true superpower is weaponized cluelessness—the art of looking blankly innocent while everyone at the table knows you're lying.
Other sides of 척하다
◆ The Imposter Persona (Fake Competence or Confidence) — Native speakers reach for this when someone is bluffing their way through a crisis—acting wealthy when broke, or nodding along like an expert when utterly clueless. It's not malicious lying; it's a desperate social costume worn to protect one's pride. Learners usually default to sounding robotic by overusing it for simple actions, missing the bitter, performative flavor of keeping up appearances.
◆ The Petty Grudge (Mocking Inauthenticity) — When natives reach for this facet, they smell performative BS from a mile away and refuse to let it slide. It’s weaponized against the martyr who sighs too loudly about how 'exhausted' they are, or the friend who acts completely unbothered by a breakup just to save face. Learners usually think it's a neutral grammar point for 'to pretend,' missing the sharp, petty edge of social critique that calls someone out for trying too hard to look cool, busy, or noble.
◆ The Petty Grudge (Mocking Inauthenticity) — When natives reach for this facet, they smell performative BS from a mile away and refuse to let it slide. It’s weaponized against the martyr who sighs too loudly about how 'exhausted' they are, or the friend who acts completely unbothered by a breakup just to save face. Learners usually think it's a neutral grammar point for 'to pretend,' missing the sharp, petty edge of social critique that calls someone out for trying too hard to look cool, busy, or noble.
🎙️ 척하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [처카다]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 못 본 척하지 마, 너 다 봤잖아.
mot bon cheokhaji ma, neo da boatjana.
Don't act like you didn't see it, you saw everything.
💡 Exposes the classic use of the term to call out someone's cowardly evasion. - 들었으면서 안 들은 척하기는.
deureosseumyeonseo an deureun cheok-hagineun.
Look at you pretending you didn't hear when you totally did.
💡 Highlights the indignant calling-out of selective hearing during awkward moments. - 모르는 척 넘어갈려고 하지 마.
moreuneun cheok neomeogallyeogo haji ma.
Don't try to brush it off by playing dumb.
💡 Demonstrates how the term is used to trap someone trying to escape accountability.